The Mission Call, Setting Apart, Farewell and MTC

We are some 6 hours into a 14 hour flight to Manilla. A day or so after we arrive we will be driven 5 hours to San Fernando, La Union which will be our home for the next three years as we serve this mission. We are excited to begin the work and meet the missionaries but anxious and a bit unsure about our ability to offer the help they need to be successful.

We feel far removed from Xian China where we were living last September when we were first interviewed for this assignment via video conference call with Elder Holland. He was kind and in good humor as he spoke with us and encouraged us. His concern was for our families and asked if our serving would be an undue hardship on anyone who needed our regular help. His familiar face and voice, albeit on the computer, gave us comfort and rendered us incapable in the moment of comping up with an excuse as to why we couldn't serve. So here we are at 36,000 feet just now flying over Midway Islands.

After General Conference in October we had a similar visit with President Eyring. He officially extended the call for us on behalf of President Nelson to serve as Mission President and Companion. He was enthusiastic and encouraging. He assured us that the Lord's hand is in the work including this call for us which was helpful. Had we been home and not in China at the time we would have met with these two brethren in their offices. We have felt cheated in that regard but were amazed at the spirit we felt from them in those video visits. President Eyring told us that we would receive a specific mission assignment later in the year. As I had served in California some 40 years earlier we were confident that we would be called to a mission in the states probably the western states.

The call to the Philippines came as a bit of a shock. The call actually arrived on our doorstep in Farmington. Carly called us and we got our family on a video conference call via WeChat. Carly then opened the call and in a voice shaking with emotion read to all of us our assignment. Nate took a screenshot of everyone when we heard Philippines Baguio mission. That photo will never be released publicly. In the weeks and months ahead, we have all had a calming assurance that we do indeed belong in the Philippines in this specific mission. We feel this having no idea, really, what awaits us there. But we have trust.

The months since December have been filled with preparations and training and as much family time as possible, which was wonderful. We spoke in our ward on June 16th, Fathers Day. We were concerned for our family and friends who would have this special day interrupted by our meeting. We were so grateful for their support that day. We are richly blessed by these relationships and we will miss so many people for these years. These blessings however also help us realize how much we owe the Lord for his mercy and kindness for us. On Wednesday June 26th we packed our bags and spent the day with our family. It was an awesome day. Saying goodbye to all of them was not easy duty. They are our treasure. As it happened our four daughters ended up at the house with us and their families returned home with their dads after we said our goodbyes. They sat on our bed and laughed and visited as we put the finishing touches on our overweight suitcases. Those are two hours we will never forget. It was a gift.

June 22-25 was spent at the Provo MTC attending the 2019 Mission Leadership Seminar. All of the Quorum of the 12 and the First Presidency was in attendance. We visited with them, had lunch and dinner with them and heard them teach and council. It was helpful and inspiring. At almost 95 years old President Nelson shows no signs to us of slowing down. In his opening talk he gave us five hopes for all of us and at the end of his talk he blessed us and our families. We take great comfort in that blessing. We are taking that blessing, our hope, faith, desire and willingness to try and away we go. We will try to periodically update you all.